Liberal State, Libertarian Policies

[LWolf]

By Paul Dunphy and Nikhil Aziz

This is just one example; the reason that the right-wing has been so successful in taking over, and destroying, public ed on both state and federal levels, is because they've been joined by democrats who support their agendas. They either aren't challenging the takeover at all, or they're offering up weak, half-hearted protests that do nothing to slow the privatization train down.

I want the politicians who supposedly represent us to stand up and fight for public education, damnit!

<snip>

This is liberal Massachusetts, right? Home to a strong labor movement, a congressional delegation destined for the Democratic hall of fame, and the birthplace of public education in America.

Yet, a handful of conservative ideologues, closely aligned with a local libertarian think tank, are dominating every aspect of Massachusetts’ education policy and pushing an agenda of privatization that is driving up costs even while weakening public oversight. And they are getting away with it largely unquestioned.

<snip>

Our recently published report, The Pioneer Institute: Privatizing the Common Wealth, from the Somerville-based organization Political Research Associates, elaborates on these contradictions and conveys a detailed picture of an organization largely unchallenged in its assault on the public sector in this state.

The policy debate in Massachusetts is dangerously out of balance, allowing assertions advanced by conservatives to push initiatives harmful to working and middle class families, indeed, to all taxpayers and to the very ideal of a commonwealth. Progressive and moderate groups need to be watchful.
Social justice is being sacrificed to privatization, Pioneer-style, with its toll of weakened public institutions, reduced public oversight, and added public cost.



More:

http://www.publiceye.org/libertarian/liberal_state.html

[Orrin_73]

1. libertarians = gun toting frauds

n/t

[txaslftist]

9. Well, I'm a gun-toting democrat. I hunt and I favor the 2d ..

amendment being applied to the states. Kerry was a gun toter, too.

Does that make me a fraud?

[Stop_the_War]

2. libertarians = anti-semitic right-wing idiots n/t

[bryant69]

10. Anti-semetic?

Could you unpack that for me.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Cats Against Frist]

3. Is the article saying the people of Mass. are stupid???

You can be liberal, and be for charter schools, too. In fact, I know this is a VERY unpopular thing to say here, but I wish that all schools were private, and the government collected taxes for vouchers, and distributed them evenly amongst people.

I'm totally for school choice, and it's something that progressives don't utilize, enough. Why, you say? I AM an elitist, or, at least, a minimalist, and I would prefer that my child not attend school with walking billboards, the children of the high-on-the-hog middle class who watch TV, little criminals waiting to happen, or worst of all, fall under the wing of some school or teacher that will try to teach him bunk science (creationism, intelligent design) or make him pray.

I'm liberal, and, at the same time, you can be a minarchist, or for de-centralization. Of course I don't want RIGHT WINGERS (who are NOT small government) in charge of the whole deal, and that part sucks, especially increased standardized testing -- because the right wing gets to decide what to test, too -- but, to tell you the truth, I'd like to get as far away from any delusional evangelicals and neurotic, consumerist middle class human capital, as much as possible.

And if, in that case, I'm a segregationist, I'm proud to be one.

[LWolf]

13. My interpretation of what the article is saying:

That even liberal states like Mass. have allowed conservative think tanks, regardless of the "party label" affixed to them, to direct policy, to the detriment of public education.

That we need to take policy back from conservative think tanks.

Personally, this isn't a partisan issue for me. I don't care what party a think-tank, PAC, or other group wielding influence belongs to. If, in my view, they are hurting me, my profession, or my nation, I'm going to call them on it.

The policies supported by this think tank are doing just that. I think they should be called on it.

[Ian David]

4. The Libertarian platform is insane

This one Libertarian said that Mitt Romney was the best politician in Massachusetts. When I pointed out that Romney wanted to put a trash-transfer station next to a reservoir, you know what the Libertarian said?

"People should exercise the personal responsibility to drink bottled water."

They think that small government is necessary and sufficient to ensure freedom. Just eliminate regulations, and everything will be fine.

Somehow, I think that Libertarians have managed to simply become Republican apologists or "economic anarchists."

[Cats Against Frist]

7. I real libertarian wouldn't think that way

First of all, Mitt Romney wouldn't be deciding, the local township would be deciding. Second, if the trash-transfer center caused the water to be polluted, Libertarians would let people sue for damages.

Many, MANY Libertarians believe the water and air SHOULD be protected, because there's no way of making it non-community property, and, since it's everyone's, anyone who fucks it up, has damaged others' property.

[Stop_the_War]

5. Go to LibertyForum, a "libertarian" forum. Anti-semitism is common there..

I went there once and was shocked at how many Nazis there were. I can't stand them, they're insane. They're racist psychopaths.

[Cats Against Frist]

11. Oh, I agree -- most of them seem to be right-wingers

with a few agitators thrown in. They are terribly racist. And crazy. Like I said, people have really screwed up libertarianism.

[Cats Against Frist]

6. And I'm a liberal, libertarian, thanks -- and I'm not a gun-toting fraud

or a Republican drug user, or an anti-semitic, right-wing idiot.

Disaffected republicans have stolen the term "libertarian" and fucked it up. What makes you think that the libertarian constituency is any brighter than the Democratic or Republican one? Most people who are libertarians don't want to pay their taxes, but, otherwise, are stateless fascists. I've met several, on-line -- I know them, and they're disgusting people.

Libertarianism shouldn't be rejected out-of-hand, because of a bad image it gets. Libertarians share much of their platform with the Democrats and are vehemently opposed to Bush selling out the Nat'l parks to industry, corporation bailout and subsidy, using the military as a corporate arm, the human status of the corporation, in the court, and they are very much for civil rights, they hate the Patriot Act, the Iraq war, and, contrary to popular belief, the idea that you're a libertarian doesn't mean you're a heartless right-winger. It just means you're for more localized government. There are libertarian socialists, you know -- and syndicalists, that believe the workers should own companies.

[LWolf]

14. Please notice this:

you are replying to me, the original poster. I did not suggest that libertarians are "gun-toting frauds,Republican drug users, or anti-semitic, right-wing idiots.

The fact that this conservative think tank is identified as libertarian isn't my point. I don't care if they are republican, libertarian, democratic, or independent. If they are influencing me, or my profession, or my country, in what I believe to be a harmful way, I'm going to say so.

It's the policies, not the partisan label, or the libertarian party, that I'm concerned with here.

[Cats Against Frist]

15. No, I guess I should have made that clear

I wasn't replying directly to you, but other posters in the thread. I just chose OM -- sorry!:hi:

[LWolf]

18. Understood.

:hi:

[txaslftist]

8. Whoa...libertarians aren't our enemies.

They have a lot more in common with us than they have with conservatives. Think of Libertarians as a people who have lost their way in furtherance of principles that cannot be sustained in a modern society rather than as conservatives in some other clothing. Google to Lew Rockwell's site and you will see that many thoughtful conservatives are very critical of the neo-cons who've taken over our govt.

As for charter schools and voucher programs, they might be a good fit in some places and a poor choice in others. If you live in an inner-city and your community school is a wasteland of drugs, metal detectors and failing teachers (there are such places) having the choice to put your child out into a safer suburban school looks pretty good.

On the other hand, my public school children routinely score higher than their private school counterparts on the assessment tests here in TX. This doesn't need to be a knee-jerk issue (the republicans favor it so we have to oppose it).

[LWolf]

12. It depends on who "we" are.

If you are an educator, which I am, or a supporter of public education in general, I can tell you that the policies promoted by this particular "libertarian" think tank are my enemy. Privatization is currently my enemy.

Having worked in public ed for 22 years, and followed the charter and voucher movements very closely during that time, I don't think they are the answer. I think they are the placebo offered to avoid addressing the underlying neglect of social and educational needs in inner cities and elsewhere.

I think as long as "we" focus on the placebos, or the symptoms, we'll never have to directly address the causes, which plays right into right-wing hands.

[txaslftist]

16. You may not agree with them...

...but at least they are acknowledging a problem and coming up with an attempt at a solution. Libs don't do it in an underhanded way, either, like the contemptible 'pugs. No Child Left Behind is a deliberate assault on the whole public school system, in an attempt to "leave public education behind".

[LWolf]

17. That's right.

NCLB is a deliberate assault on public ed. So is privatization, which is what this particular think tank is pushing.

Again, regardless of party affiliation, privatization is a big part of the conservative agenda. Privatization of utilities. Privatization of social security. And, privatization of public education.

I want the privatization train derailed. I don't give a **** who is trying to do the privatization; I won't support them or their efforts. I'm not going to look at their party badge before I decide if I like what they say or not.